Lafarge Volnay 1er cru Clos des Chênes 2022

94-97 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "A royal purple colour. The fruit intensity on the nose outstrips all the others. What a perfect pitch of ripeness! I keep going back to smell it again. Waves of fruit wash over the palate, raspberry, a few perfectly ripe cherries, superbly nuanced as well as the intensity. Finally, a finish in perfect harmony. (Dec 2023)"

96 points La Revue du Vin de France: "The Volnay Clos des Chenes appears denser, delivering a sensation of riper flesh. This premier cru is built with a structure and square shoulders that make it ideal for aging: forget it in the cellar for at least ten years. (2025).

95 points Charles Curtis, MW (Decanter): "Lafarge has a large parcel of nearly a hectare in the Clos des Chênes; it always makes an exceptional wine. Frédéric notes, ' In 2022, the terroirs are really apparent, which is not always the case in hot years.' He coaxes a wine of great richness from this special plot. The dark mulberry and cassis fruit is scented with exotic spices and a savoury, gamey note. The structure is firmly tannic but not astringent, and the finish goes on interminably. Age this ideally for at least five years before opening, and it will repay you with decades of pleasure. Drinking Window: 2025-2050. (11/2/23)"

93-95 points/'Sweet spot/Outstanding,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from 45+ year old vines that sit just above Champans). This is also quite spicy with its aromas of purple fruit, wet stone, newly turned earth and a floral top note. There is a completely different mouthfeel to the voluminous, powerful and serious larger-bodied soil-tinged flavors that also flash plenty of minerality on the built-to-age and gorgeously long finish. This is brawny, but brawny in a Volnaysien way, which is to say more gymnast than body builder! Drink: 2034+. (Apr 2024)"

93.5 points CellarTracker.com community score.

92-94 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes is lovely, delivering aromas of cherries, red berries and plums mingled with rose petals, spices and vine smoke. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with excellent depth at the core, powdery tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a broad, persistent finish. This parcel has more in common with Taillepieds than with the rest of Clos des Chênes, which explains why it's such a singular expression of this climat. (Jan 2024)"

92-94 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2022 Volnay Clos des Chênes 1er Cru was a little more backward and gawky than Lafarge's other cuvées - just a stage the wine is at during its élevage. It is more mineral-driven, but it needs time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins framing the layers of red fruit infused with crushed stone and a touch of spice. Very persistent on the finish that veers a little towards Pommard in style. This is a Volnay predestined for long-term aging. Drink: 2029-2055. (Jan 2024)"